Buddies
Buddies is a Tokyo-based rescue dog dispatch company that runs veterinary-supervised Paw-Working co-working venues, corporate dog dispatch, DOGA yoga classes, subscriptions, merchandise, and donation programs, serving urban dog lovers, corporate clients, and welfare facilities in Japan.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersTokyo, Japan
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Buddies does
Buddies Co., Ltd. (株式会社Buddies) is a Tokyo-based, privately-held rescue dog dispatch company founded in December 2020 by veterinarian Carna Terada. The company operates a portfolio of animal-assisted wellness services centered on rescue dogs managed and trained under veterinary supervision. Its core offerings are Paw-Working (co-working alongside rescue dogs at venues in Tokyo), a Dispatch Service that brings dogs to corporate offices, events, and welfare facilities, and DOGA (dog yoga) classes delivered in partnership with Nami Yoga Studio. Supporting streams include monthly subscription plans (Light ¥4,500, Special ¥13,400), drop-in hourly sessions at ¥1,000, charitable DOGA events at ¥5,000, branded merchandise, and a donation/foster program whose proceeds fund rescue dog care.
The business model is a hybrid of subscription recurring revenue, usage-based drop-in fees, transaction fees on corporate dispatch and DOGA events, hardware merchandise sales, and donations. The company also holds a Tokyo Animal Handling Business Registration (Rental/Exhibition), which is the regulatory prerequisite for placing dogs in third-party venues. Customer segments include dog lovers in Tokyo who cannot own pets due to housing or schedule constraints, corporate clients seeking wellness/CSR activities, remote workers, and welfare/elderly care facilities. The company claims to target the structural problem that over 100,000 dogs and cats are euthanized annually in Japan by socializing and rehoming rescue dogs through human interaction.
Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer through the buddies.life website supplemented by organic social (Instagram, Facebook, YouTube), earned media (NHK World, NHK Good Morning Japan, Sankei Biz), and event marketing. The company is bootstrapped with no disclosed institutional funding, operates with a small team, and derives its primary differentiation from veterinary credentialing, evidence-based socialization protocols, and accumulated media exposure rather than proprietary technology. Geographic footprint is confined to Tokyo across two Paw-Working venues (BLINK Roppongi and Toyosu), with mobile dispatch serving corporate clients within Japan.
Buddies firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Buddies
- Legal name
- 株式会社Buddies
- Website
- https://buddies.life
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Buddies is a Tokyo-based rescue dog dispatch company that runs veterinary-supervised Paw-Working co-working venues, corporate dog dispatch, DOGA yoga classes, subscriptions, merchandise, and donation programs, serving urban dog lovers, corporate clients, and welfare facilities in Japan.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Buddies industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Animal-Assisted Wellness Services
- NAICS
- Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (81291), Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (812910)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-To Dwellings & Other Buildings (7340)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Small-Group / Structured Dog Daycare (HSANAFAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Training-Integrated Dog Daycare (Day Training) (HSANAFAE), Animal Shelters & Rescue Operations (AFAEALAB)
Keywords
Where Buddies is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tokyo
- HQ country
- Japan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices3 records
Markets served
Buddies business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others
Revenue model
- Subscription Plans: Monthly subscription memberships (Light ¥4,500, Special ¥13,400) providing recurring Paw-working access, dog walking privileges, event discounts, and co-working space benefits.
- Paw-Working Drop-in Sessions: One-time hourly sessions at ¥1,000 per hour for individual customers visiting Paw-working venues.
- Corporate Dispatch Service: Buddie Dogs dispatched to corporate offices, events, and facilities for team building, CSR, and wellness programs.
- DOGA Event Tickets: Charity DOGA (dog yoga) classes at ¥5,000 per session, with proceeds supporting rescue dog care.
- Merchandise Sales: Branded merchandise including organic cotton T-shirts, tote bags, caps, and earrings. All profits support rescue dog care and shelter establishment.
- Donations: One-time and monthly donation options at ¥1,000, ¥5,000, or ¥10,000 tiers supporting rescue dog care and medical treatment.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Light subscription - Monthly access to Paw-working with basic benefits |
| Subscription | Monthly | Special subscription - Comprehensive Paw-working with full facility access |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Coupon tickets - Drop-in package for occasional users |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Paw-working Drop-in - Single hourly session |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | DOGA class - Charity dog yoga session |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Merchandise - Branded rescue dog support items |
| Subscription | Monthly | Donations - Support rescue dog welfare |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels7 records
Buddies product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Buddies is a rescue dog dispatch company that supplies veterinary-supervised rescue dogs for in-venue co-working experiences (Paw-Working), on-site corporate visits for team building and wellness (Dispatch Service), and dog yoga classes (DOGA). Operations are delivered through dedicated Paw-Working venues in Tokyo, monthly subscription memberships, branded merchandise, and donation and foster-volunteer programs that fund rescue dog care.
Product overview
Buddies operates as a rescue dog dispatch company offering a portfolio of services centered around animal-assisted well-being experiences. The core offerings include Paw-Working (co-working with rescue dogs), Dispatch Service (on-site dog visits to offices/events), and DOGA (dog yoga classes). These are supported by subscription membership plans, a merchandise store, and donation/foster volunteer programs. All services are supervised by veterinarians, and the company was founded in December 2020 with the mission of promoting animal welfare and One Health.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Paw-Working Experience Experiential co-working program at Buddies venues (BLINK Roppongi and Times Toyosu) where individuals work, relax, read, and interact with rescue dogs under veterinary supervision. Includes dog walking privileges and serves as the company's flagship consumer offering.
- Corporate Dispatch Service On-site service that dispatches veterinary-supervised rescue dogs to corporate offices, events, and facilities for team building, CSR/SDGs activities, and employee wellness. Each engagement includes a 20-minute pre-lecture session, staff chaperons, allergy confirmation, and ongoing stress checks of the dogs.
- DOGA (Dog Yoga) Charity yoga class conducted alongside rescue dogs, combining gentle yoga movements with interaction with Buddie Dogs to deepen mind-body connection. Includes a ¥5,000 donation portion per ¥5,000 ticket supporting rescue dog care.
- Subscription Plans Monthly membership plans for individual consumers offering recurring Paw-Working access, daily dog walking privileges, event discounts, friend invitations, and (for Special tier) BLINK co-working facility access on Thursdays and Fridays.
- Merchandise Store Online store selling branded Buddies merchandise (organic cotton T-shirts, 2-Way Canvas Tote Bags, caps, earrings) and package deals, with all profits directed to rescue dog care and shelter establishment.
- Donation Program Donation program offering one-time and monthly contributions in tiered amounts (¥1,000, ¥5,000, ¥10,000) to fund daily care, medical treatment, and new rescue operations for rescue dogs.
Quantifiable outcome
- Shelter dogs have nearly 3x higher cortisol (stress hormone) levels than house dogs, but human interaction significantly reduces these levels
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Buddies
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Buddies technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Buddies partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Asahi Kasei Group (LIFE CO-LAB Accelerator)coreAccelerator program adoption providing mentorship, resources, and corporate partnership opportunities. Supports Buddies' growth in wellness and lifestyle sectors.
- Startup Hub Tokyo (Global Innovation College)minorSelected as overseas curriculum member for innovation program sponsored by United Airlines and TOPPAN. Provided international business development exposure.
- Nami Yoga Studio (NYS)corePartnership with Nami Yoga Studio for DOGA (dog yoga) class instruction. NYS provides yoga instruction expertise while Buddies provides rescue dogs for the combined wellness experience. Classes held at BLINK Roppongi with joint marketing.
- BLINK RoppongicoreCo-working space partner hosting Paw-working operations and DOGA events. Provides venue facilities including workspace, cafe, and meeting rooms. Subscription members receive facility access benefits.
- Uber (Puppies Program Reference)minorReferenced as industry benchmark for rescue dog office delivery programs. Not an actual partnership - cited as precedent for socialization benefits of rescue dog workplace visits.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Buddies competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Rover: Global pet care marketplace connecting dog owners with pet sitters, walkers, and daycare — overlaps with Buddies' mission of enabling urbanites without dogs to access canine interaction, though delivered via a marketplace rather than owned venues.
- BarkBox (Bark): Direct-to-consumer pet brand with subscription, content, and increasingly services offerings. Comparable as a digitally native, brand-led pet company monetizing through subscriptions and merchandise like Buddies' own model.
Direct peers
- Camp Bow Wow: US dog daycare and boarding franchise providing supervised playgroups and web-cam monitored sessions; the operational model (small-group structured interaction, safety protocols) closely mirrors Buddies' Paw-Working experience.
- Wag Hotels: US upscale pet resort offering daycare, boarding, and structured socialization services for dogs. Comparable facility-based model with safety-credentialed staffing, relevant to Buddies' venue economics.
- Dogtopia: Largest US dog daycare franchise offering supervised, structured small-group dog interaction with a focus on safety protocols and socialization — directly comparable to Buddies' Paw-Working model.
Broad incumbents
- AHB (Asobi Holdings): Largest Japanese pet retail and services chain (Pet City / Pet Plus). Comparable as a Japanese incumbent in pet-related services with significantly larger footprint that could compete with or acquire Buddies' positioning.
- Best Friends Animal Society: Largest US animal welfare and rescue organization operating sanctuaries and adoption programs. Comparable to Buddies' rescue-dog socialization mission and fundraising/donation model, though at vastly larger scale.
- PetSmart: North America's largest specialty pet retailer with in-store Doggie Day Camp, training, and grooming services. Comparable bundled pet-care service model relevant for assessing Buddies' scaling potential against established incumbents.
- Pets at Home: UK-listed integrated pet retailer and veterinary services provider offering in-store grooming, daycare, and vet services — comparable as a large-scale platform combining pet care, services, and merchandise under one brand.
Regional players
- PetRescue (Australia): Non-profit rescue animal directory and adoption platform in Australia. Comparable mission-driven rescue-dog welfare focus, but operating in a different geography than Buddies' Japan base.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Buddies social profiles
Digital presenceBuddies financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Buddies leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Buddies funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Buddies M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Buddies
What does Buddies do?
Buddies is a rescue dog dispatch company that supplies veterinary-supervised rescue dogs for in-venue co-working experiences (Paw-Working), on-site corporate visits for team building and wellness (Dispatch Service), and dog yoga classes (DOGA). Operations are delivered through dedicated Paw-Working venues in Tokyo, monthly subscription memberships, branded merchandise, and donation and foster-volunteer programs that fund rescue dog care.
Is Buddies a public or private company?
Buddies is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Buddies founded?
Buddies was founded in 2020. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Buddies based?
Buddies is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, in the Asia region.
How does Buddies make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Subscription Plans are the primary driver. The others are paw-Working Drop-in Sessions, corporate Dispatch Service, DOGA Event Tickets, merchandise Sales and donations.
Who are Buddies's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Rover and BarkBox (Bark). Direct peers are Camp Bow Wow, Wag Hotels and Dogtopia. Broad incumbents are AHB (Asobi Holdings), Best Friends Animal Society, PetSmart and Pets at Home. PetRescue (Australia) is listed as a regional player.
Does Buddies have an API?
No public API is recorded for Buddies.
What industry is Buddies in?
Buddies's product category is Animal-Assisted Wellness Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HSANAFAD, Small-Group / Structured Dog Daycare, with a secondary code of HSANAFAE, Training-Integrated Dog Daycare (Day Training). Its NAICS code is 81291 and its SIC code is 8300.